Leaders in Exam Preparation and Training

We have helped thousands of candidates pass their licensing examinations on the first attempt, and our pass rates are consistently above the industry average.

We guide students from the moment they receive our study materials until they successfully pass their required exams. We begin by making a personal introduction to the instructor. Then as students move through the curriculum, they receive regular email follow-ups on their materials, practice exams, and overall progress. This proactive approach is the basis for our partnership with our students, encouraging them to ask questions, receive guidance, and remain focused and accountable. Knopman Marks students are not on their own as they prepare for their license exams. We’re with them every step of the way.

Small Classes:

We believe that crowded classrooms dilute the learning process, so we intentionally limit the number of students attending each study program. Keeping the student-teacher ratio at a comfortable level creates a learning environment that ensures our students will master the required information.

Current Material and Practice Exams:

Our course material is up-to-date and easy to understand. Workbooks reinforce key points and familiarize students with all the required subject matter. Then key concepts are tested extensively through simulated practice examinations, which help determine each student's readiness and an expected level of success on the actual exam.

Ensured Exam Readiness:

Each student receives input from their instructors on their readiness to sit for the examination. If a student needs more time to prepare for the exam, he or she can continue in our programs without additional tuition charges. If a student does not perform well on an exam, he or she can retake the course in its entirety within one year at no additional charge.

Flexible Structure:

Our programs can be adapted to our client’s needs and can be held at your offices, at our training facility or at a mutually convenient location, domestically or abroad.

Partnerships:

Domestic and global financial institutions have come to rely on our training methodologies, our knowledgeable and experienced instructors, as well as our cost-effective programs to assist in their training and development needs. Need a custom program created for your firm?

Knopman Marks Financial Training was established by Harvey Knopman in 1991. By that time, Harvey had already earned a reputation as an engaging, innovative instructor, and knew he could compete in the industry if he offered exemplary service and a thoughtful curriculum.

26 years later, Harvey is at the helm of a company unique in its attentiveness and unrivaled in its service and success rate. As the longest tenured instructor in the industry, Harvey has personally trained more than 125,000 students, at every level and across 5 continents. His nickname in the classroom is “The Harv,” but he’s also known as The GOAT (greatest of all time) for good reason. More than 95 percent of his students pass their exams on the first try. Harvey has attracted world-class instructors, managers, and strategists who have joined him in pushing the limits of what’s possible. The constant influx of new ideas, materials, and business goals at Knopman Marks are a testament to his ability to inspire commitment and engagement in his team.

Before founding Knopman Marks, Harvey served as a Vice President at both Securities Training Corporation and The FIrst Boston Corporation. He has taught classes in finance and investments at the New York University School of Continuing Education. He holds a BBA from Bernard M. Baruch College, and an MBA from Fordham University. He has also been a proud member of the NYSE/NASD Series 7 item writing committee, where he was actively involved in the composition of the Series 7 Exam.

Founder, President, Faculty

Brian Marks

Partner, Sr. Managing Director, Faculty

When Brian came on board in 2004 he had an immediate connection with Harvey Knopman, and jumped into what he thought would be a lifelong position. He was right. In 2010, he became a partner at Knopman Marks and was nominated to our Board of Directors. In the course of his career, Brian has been featured in a number of publications for his industry knowledge and opinions, spoken at conferences and roundtables all over the country, and trained over 20,000 students. His courses are always hilarious, and his approachability and expertise make him an invaluable resource for people of all levels preparing to take their exams. At Knopman Marks, Brian also handles business strategy, course content preparation and maintenance, and financial management.

He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Partner, Sr. Managing Director, Faculty

Liza Streiff

Jr. Partner, Managing Director

Lauded as a visionary within the company, Liza has been an integral part of the growth of Knopman Marks since the beginning. She is responsible for setting our overall business strategy and realizing those business goals through her leadership of all marketing and internal operations. Liza also manages our internal organization, defining and shaping roles to maximize each person’s strengths and engagement. She is particularly involved in the structure and performance of our client services team to ensure that our students and clients are given the best possible experience.

Liza is constantly pushing our capabilities from every angle and encouraging her team to be bold and innovative. Just this year, she spearheaded the development of a new ecommerce site, a new student training center, a new mobile app, and a new internal system.

When Liza took a job at Knopman Marks fresh out of college, she never thought she’d be here, 12 years later, in the most rewarding professional role of her life. Her passion is rooted in her belief that our work is about more than training people for exams. It’s about helping them start their careers, feed their families, and go on to live out their dreams.

Liza obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Jr. Partner, Managing Director

Dave Meshkov

Managing Director, Faculty

Having found a way to make exam training not only approachable, but enjoyable, Dave is one of our most dynamic and sought-after instructors. To date, he has given thousands of students at Knopman Marks one very helpful piece of advice: “Don’t screw it up.”

As Managing DIrector of Course Design, Dave engineers course improvements, finds new ways to present complex subjects, and develops our online course offerings. Dave is responsible for ensuring that all students receive a consistent, comprehensive, yet delightful training experience. Prior to starting as a Knopman Marks instructor in 2011, Dave practiced bankruptcy law and served as a law clerk in a New York Bankruptcy Court. This legal expertise allows him to keep all our courses updated with the latest legislative and rulemaking changes.

Dave currently trains for series 7, 24, 57, 63, 65, 66, 79, 86 , 87, and 99. He also delivers executive one-on-one training and shares his passion for learning outside of work as a ski instructor and yoga teacher.

Dave graduated magna cum laude from Fordham Law School, and cum laude with a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Managing Director, Faculty

Leigh Yanocha

Vice President, Program Management

Leigh joined Knopman Marks in 2016 focused on business development and client relationship management. Since then, her respect for good process and love of to-do lists have driven her to be involved in nearly every aspect of the business. Leigh effortlessly leads company projects and programs, client services, financial institution relationships, our growing Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam business, campus relationships, recruiting, and even our summer interns.

Previously, Leigh oversaw analyst and associate training programs at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. These experiences gave her a deep understanding of what it takes for students to succeed, and she loves being on the other side, helping them get there. Leigh works hard so she can play hard with her family, and is proud to be a Hudson County CASA volunteer, advocating for foster children.

Leigh received her BA in Communication from Rutgers University.

Vice President, Program Management

Ian Franklin

Managing Director, Faculty

In 2011, Ian joined the Knopman Marks team intrigued by the opportunity to grow a small business. To date, he has trained over 10,000 students for their exams through his thoughtful, process-driven instruction.

As our Managing Director of Product Development, Ian also oversees the creation of training textbooks, practice exams, and supplemental tools to deliver the most up-to-date, comprehensive materials to students.

Ian is a key driver of the Knopman Marks SIE program, building the textbook, question bank, and diagnostic exams, as well as following up with every trainee enrolled in our program.

In addition to the SIE exam, Ian provides training for the Series 3, 7, 50, 52, 57, 63, 65, 66, and 79 exams, and offers one-on-one tutoring to students seeking additional instruction.

He graduated with college honors and received a BA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Managing Director, Faculty

Randi Cole

Vice President, Client Services

Randi Cole has been with Knopman Marks since 2010. As a client relations specialist, she plays an important role in supporting our students and making their exam prep as smooth and seamless as possible. Randi exemplifies our mission to deliver the best possible customer service, and is known for going the extra mile to make sure everything, and everyone, is taken care of.

Randi is responsible for daily office operations, facilitating communication between departments, and coordinating team activities. Given her dedication to our students, clients, and team, it’s not surprising that Randi is also a certified Life Coach, working with people to achieve both personal and professional success.

Randi received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Miami Florida.

Vice President, Client Services

Howard Kaplan

Vice President, Faculty

When Howard overheard the words, “stocks,” “bonds,” and “mutual funds,” at the dinner table as a kid, he did what most 10-year-olds would not. He went to the library and looked them up. Since then, he has always loved to learn and share knowledge with others, having spent the past 30 years coaching tens of thousands of people for their financial exams.

Howard started teaching at Knopman Marks in 2014. In addition to his regular courses, he specializes in providing individual instruction to students who request or need special assistance. His job, as he sees it, is to empower every student to overcome the fear and anxiety around taking an exam, and believe in their own ability to succeed.

Howard helps students prepare for the Series 4, 7, 9, 10, 14, 24, 27, 53, 63, and 87 exams, and feels as passionate today as he did standing before his very first class.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Oswego.

Vice President, Faculty

Marcia Larson

Vice President, Faculty

Just after college, Marcia visited her brother-in-law on the floor of the CBOE, and was hooked for life. She has now spent over 30 years in the field, with extensive experience training students for domestic and international exams. At Knopman Marks, Marcia is responsible for monitoring rule changes, regulatory actions, and industry trends to keep course material up-to-the-minute. In the classroom, she is known for the confidence she exudes and instills in her students.

Before coming to Knopman Marks in 2012, Marcia served as Vice President of Securities Products for Kaplan Financial where she managed the development of all Series exams and held international training and businesses development roles. She then spent 10 years on the client side at CUNA Mutual Group as the Director of Annuity Products and Business Development. There, she helped create industry-leading annuity products and solutions for retirement advisors, and gained insight and empathy into the needs of our clients.

Marcia was a summa cum laude graduate of Wartburg College with degrees in Business Administration and Piano Performance. Marcia also holds the designations of Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), and Fellow Life Management Institute™ (FLMI®).

Vice President, Faculty

Michael T. Verdi

Associate, Training Coordinator

Michael joined the team in 2017 with a rich background in financial education. Fresh from developing finance and credit training programs for New York non-profits, including City Year NY and Habitat for Humanity, he is now using his aptitude for instruction to coordinate series exam training for students and instructors. Despite moonlighting as a standup comedian, Michael is serious about helping students pass their exams.

Michael has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Associate, Training Coordinator

Jillian Streiff

Associate, Client Services

Since joining Knopman Marks in 2015, Jillian has been a jack of all trades, and has a knack for keeping phones, calendars, books, supplies, and her coworkers in order. In coordinating client services and day-to-day office management, she is constantly pulling from her experiences as a personal assistant and one of eight children. Jillian is also a classically trained singer and an award-winning hair stylist, though she hasn’t yet found a way to integrate those skills into her work here...

Jillian has an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from Meramec Community College, and holds a Cosmetology License from the Aveda Institute.

Associate, Client Services

Jane Ricciardi

Coordinator, Client Services

Jane joined Knopman Marks as an intern during the summer of 2018, and quickly proved she had what it took to land a full time position. Her fresh perspective and tremendous work ethic will be invaluable as her role flexes between supporting clients, coordinating with instructors, and managing a variety of office operations. When she’s not at work, Jane is an avid cook and traveler, which may explain her incredible adaptability and love for a good challenge.

Jane holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.